Mini Cows - Miniature Cattle

I never thought I would see the day; Mini Cows? I am seeing things like, "trailer friendly cows". Now, if you ever grew up on a farm, ranch or even came close (my Aunt and Uncle were farmers all their life), you know the (1) smell, (2) debris, (3) flies! I am having a hard time imagining a cow anywhere near my house let alone in my patio. But, this is the new age; anything goes.

My sister had a pot belly pig, and yes, for awhile he was roaming around in the house. The darn thing was house broken. They are very smart - probably smarter than their master who let them in. But, porkey started to bite and that was that!

The folks at MyDairyCow.com have this to say for themselves:

"MyDairyCow.com was founded in 2003 to provide real, natural milk. Our founders realized that our society was losing touch with its roots as an agrarian society. Most children today think milk comes from stores in clear plastic jugs and have never tasted milk -- warm and pure -- directly from a cows teat."

Ok, let me see. Straight from the teat. I'll take mine in a glass, thank you.

Now, to be fair, let's get back to the serious side (there must be one) of this discussion. What are the advantages of this breed? Mini-Cows West gives us some of those advantages:

1. A more easily managed animal (naturally polled, docile and easier on your pastures and fences)
2. More efficient animal on feed and pasture
3. They mature earlier and dress off with less waste
4. Good fertility and easy calving
5. Pigmentation avoids problems of lighter colored breeds
6. Less birthing and maternal problems
7. Ideal size for 4-H and small handlers
... and more

These minis are about 1/2 the size and weight of a regular cow and produce 65% edible beef. Because of the size, more women are considering ranching. Families are considering having a family cow. Another interesting fact: Ten years ago, fewer than 5,000 were registered. Now, there are more than 20,000.